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Join us at Artscape!

Friday, July 21, 2017, 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Calling all campers! Adventure awaits with the National Aquarium at Baltimore’s 36th annual Artscape, the country’s largest free arts festival, from July 21 through 23! In celebration of this year’s Artscape theme—“Camp Artscape: Adventure Awaits”—be transported to our own Aquarium Falls, inspired by campgrounds in scenic western Maryland. Help build a waterfall out of repurposed plastic bottles while you learn how to combat plastic pollution and participate in conservation-themed trail activities!

For the first time, the National Aquarium’s interactive art installation, Aquarium Falls, will be one of eight anchor projects at Artscape. Festival-goers will have the opportunity to assist visual artist and MICA graduate Kasey Jones in building a large-scale waterfall sculpture made entirely from repurposed plastic materials. We are proud to partner with Kasey in the creation of original, community artwork for the fourth consecutive year.

Aquarium Falls was inspired by the picturesque water features found in many of Maryland’s state parks. The idea was born from a collaboration between Kasey and students in the National Aquarium’s Henry Hall and Aquarium on Wheels programs. These students will be available during Artscape to talk about the importance of protecting our local waterways, as well as to reflect on their own camp experiences through the Henry Hall program, which provides free camps for Baltimore City students interested in biology or environmental science.

Festival-goers will be able to participate in trail activities, including using a field guide to identify and learn about animals found in western Maryland, and building a seed ball, which helps introduce seeds and grow foliage to help restore native landscaping.

After exploring Aquarium Falls, festivalgoers can go home with a better understanding of plastic pollution and how we can protect our local waterways—such as those found in western Maryland—which ultimately affect the ocean that sustains us all.

You can find the National Aquarium at the heart of Artscape, at the intersection of Mt. Royal Avenue and Dolphin Street near the Light Rail. Visit artscape.org to plan your visit.